Standoff suspect ruled competent, waives exam

Tuesday

Jun 18, 2013 at 10:08 AMJun 18, 2013 at 10:10 AM

By Daily Telegram staff

An Adrian man accused of shooting a Michigan State Police robot during a standoff at his Renfrew Avenue home in February was bound over for trial after being ruled competent Monday in Lenawee County District Court.

Shawn Julies Gauss, 37, waived a preliminary examination on six felony charges stemming the 13-hour armed standoff with police. The waiver was made after he was ruled mentally able to assist in his defense.

Gauss’ prosecution was put on hold in March when Judge James E. Sheridan granted a defense motion for a psychological evaluation.

The stand off began as a dispute with a girlfriend. Adrian police called in an MSP emergency services tactical team to help deal with the barricaded gunman situation.

A robot sent into the house was shot and badly damaged. Officers later entered the house and took Gauss into custody after a second robot was sent in and Gauss was found to be incoherent.

Gauss was returned to jail to await a June 26 arraignment in circuit court. He has been held in lieu of a $1.5 million bond that was set after his arrest.Defense attorney William Hackett of Dearborn Heights asked Monday for a reduction in the bond that would allow Gauss to be released.

“I would ask the bond stay the same. This is a very serious offense,” said Scott Baker, assistant Lenawee County prosecutor.

He said Gauss was under the influence of two or three controlled substances at the time he was taken into custody. The high bond in the case is appropriate considering the circumstances, he said.

Gauss faces up to seven years in prison if convicted of the most serious charges filed against him. Possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony carries a mandatory two-year term, consecutive to any other sentences. He is also charged with carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent, discharging a firearm from a building, two counts of felonious assault and malicious destruction of police property.